[2025 Audit] National Library of Korea Reports 9,478 Damaged Items Over Four Years... 3.23 Billion Won Spent on Restoration

Park Suhyeon: "A Record 3,536 Cases in 2022"
Severe Scribbling Leads to Discarded Materials

From 2020 to September this year, a total of 9,478 items preserved by the National Library of Korea were found to have been damaged.

According to materials from the National Library of Korea released on October 22 by Assemblyman Park Suhyeon of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, thousands of cases of damage have occurred each year, with the number reaching as high as 3,536 cases in 2022.

The types of damage varied, including missing pages, damage to the main text or cover, and binding breakage. Some items were discarded due to severe scribbling with pens or markers.

The National Library of Korea identifies damaged materials and takes preservation and restoration measures through an annual collection inspection. From 2020 to September this year, a total of 3.232 billion won was allocated to restore damaged and deteriorated materials.

Assemblyman Park pointed out, "Losing a single book is like losing the memory of an era," and emphasized, "As the nation's leading library, the National Library of Korea must minimize damage to its materials and establish measures to provide stable services to the public."